Three index cards and four paper clips is all it took to support the weight of numerous textbooks during a hands-on engineering activity in Nicholas Assande’s classroom at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School.

On Feb. 3, sixth graders put their scientific hats on and put their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to the test as worked with those materials to make a structurally sound object. They also had to meet the minimum dimensions specified by Mr. Assande, including a height of at least 1 ¼ inches.

Each student brought his or her creation to the front for the strength test. One at a time, Mr. Assande added textbooks to see how much weight they could hold. The record for the class was 11 books, which Mr. Assande estimated at 24 pounds.

Sixth graders are becoming masters of the guitar at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School. Working with music teacher Desiree Behr, students have recently been learning one-finger chords.

Students were strumming chords in the style of Beatles song “Paperback Writer.” Ms. Behr said their goal was to be able to change between the chords with minimal delay. Once they master those two chords (C and G7) they will add in two more (D and Em).

Global School Play Day looked a little different this year because of the COVID-19 health and safety restrictions, but students at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School were still able to appreciate the fun side of learning with socially distant activities on Feb. 3.

Kindergartners in Jennifer McGovern’s class played a game of CVC bingo, to help them learn consonant-vowel-consonant words. Each unique game board had nine pictures representing different three-letter words. As she picked words out of a bag, children got to mark off their spots until they called “bingo!”

Also on Global School Play Day, Ms. McGovern’s students did snowman-themed addition and subtraction games, built different objects with Play-Doh, had free play with toys brought from home and played with items in their busy boxes, such as pattern blocks and beads, which help them with their development of motor skills.

Third graders in Laura Russo’s class got ready for a popular February holiday by making Valentine’s Day mailboxes. Students used supplies from home and from the classroom for their crafts.

In Daniel Savarino’s fourth grade class, students watch a video, Caine’s Arcade, about a young boy who made arcade games out of cardboard boxes. Students proceeded to build their own games using construction paper, coffee filters, paper cups, straws, tape and other supplies.

One by one, kindergartners walk up to a box, looked inside, and saw their reflections in a mirror. Students in Marianne Devine’s class at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District knew they were being introduced to an author, they just didn’t know it would be them.

It was a fun way to start a new Writer’s Workshop unit. The class read “The Library Mouse,” a book about a mouse that lives in the children’s section of a library, reads so much and decides to write books himself. Just like the library mouse, it was time for kindergartners to shift from readers to writers.

Ms. Devine handed each student a small booklet of blank pages and charged them with creating a book about one of their interests, a memorable experience or something they know how to do. Just like most children’s books, she encouraged them to include illustrations with their stories.

Each child keeps a writing folder with their completed works throughout the year. That folder also includes an inspiration page, with pictures that reflect the students’ interests to give them ideas for writing topics.

To understand the importance of cooperation and teamwork, fourth graders at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School traveled back several centuries to the Iroquois confederacy. 

As part of the fourth grade social studies curriculum, students learn the history of New York State including its earliest inhabitants, the Iroquois. In Daniel Savarino and Lori Alduino’s class, students were assigned to one of five tribes. Each was given a scenario where they had a certain amount of food and hunting tools. Every tribe selected a leader – a Sachem – who then met in a Great Council meeting to trade and ensure that each group had enough food and hunting supplies. 

Students then reflected on the experience through writing and colorful drawings symbolizing decorative wampum. Mr. Savarino said the activity emphasized problem-solving through communication and compromise.